The communities that cut 3 percent of their energy usage will receive a free, 1 kilowatt solar panel that may be used at a municipal building.
EASTHAMPTON – A solar panel for a city building is the carrot in a program aiming to get Easthampton residents to cut their electricity use.
Easthampton is one of four communities in Western Massachusetts chosen to participate in the Western Mass Saves Challenge. Along with Amherst, Sunderland and Ludlow, the residential users here are being asked to pare 3 percent off their electricity consumption. The communities that achieve that goal will receive a free, 1 kilowatt solar panel that may be used at a municipal building.
The challenge is being promoted by SmartPower, a national, nonprofit organization that has teamed with Western Massachusetts Electrical Co. to run the program. Having achieved success in other parts of the country, SmartPower wanted to started the pilot program here, according to Maryellen Rousseau, a member of Easthampton’s new Energy Committee.
“We’re in the very beginning stages of getting the word out,” she said.
Rousseau made a presentation to the Easthampton City Council Wednesday, and she is encouraging residents to visit WesternMassSaves.com, the program’s website, for tips on how to conserve energy. After setting up an account, consumers can use the site to learn about more than 250 ways to reduce electricity use in their homes. These range from finding energy efficient household appliances to keeping certain lights turned off. There are also heating tips.
“We’re trying to put (energy saving) in the forefront of people’s minds,” Rousseau said.
Electricity conservation will be calculated at the end of the year-long program.